Short Summary

About two-hundred-thousand people crammed into Santiago's big National Stadium on Tuesday (6 February) to hear Chile's President, Salvador Allende, deliver his last big campaign speech before the elections on March 4.

Background: About two-hundred-thousand people crammed into Santiago's big National Stadium on Tuesday (6 February) to hear Chile's President, Salvador Allende, deliver his last big campaign speech before the elections on March 4.

Before his address, the huge crowd waved banners and flags and frequently broke into the singing of their country's National Anthem.

The coming polls are vital. The voters will renew Chile's entire 158-seat Chamber of Deputies and half the 58-seat Senate. President Allende said there was nothing and nobody who could stop him from completing his six-year mandate in 1976. He said that Chile would continue its march to Socialism begun by his own Government two-and-a-half years ago.

SYNOPSIS: A huge crowd crammed into Santiago's National Stadium to Tuesday to hear Chile's President Allende deli??? and election campaign speech. Well before the President spoke, the crowd was estimated at 200-thousand.

Chile votes on the fourth of March to renew its entire 158-seat chamber of deputies, and half the 58-seat senate. This vast rally was considered a vital last stand for support. The people who stood for more than three hours in the sun brought banners and flags, and from time to time, they broke into the singing of Chile's National Anthem.

President Allende said that there was nothing and nobody who could prevent him from completing his six-year mandate in 1976.

He said that his country was threatened by opposition sectors who wouldn't hesitate to expose Chile to violence and Civil War to get what they wanted. The President told the huge crowd that Chile would continue its march to Socialism begun by his Government two-and-a-half years ago.

The crowd stood and cheer the president when he finished his long speech, but the success of the vast rally won't be known until the fourth of March when Chileans cast their votes.